Electric-lamp cluster.



1%- 760,375. PATENTED MAY 17, 1904, R. B. BENJAMIN. BLEGTRIG LAMP CLUSTER.

APPLIUATIOH FILED EAR. 3, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

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No. 760,375. Patented May 17, 190.4. k

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-LAMP CLUSTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,375, dated May 1'7, 1904.

Original application filed December 9, 1901, Serial No. 85,206. Divided and this application filed March 3, 1902. Serial No. 96,480. (No model.)

T all who"?! it 7/ e 6 are mounted and are secured thereto by the Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a screws 7, threading into the inwardly-turned citizen of the United-States, residing at Chiends 8 of the contact-plates 6. The inner and cage, in the county of Cook and State of Illiapproached ends of these plates are secured to- 5 nois, have invented a certain new and useful gether by the insulating-block 9 by means of Improvement in Electric Lamp Clusters, of suitable screws 10. Threaded metallic shells which the following is a full, clear, concise, 11 are secured to the contact-plates 6 and serve and exact description, reference being had to as outer or sleeve contacts for the incarides- 55 the accompanyingdrawings, forming apart of cent lamps and to hold said lamps in position.

[0 this specification. Upon one side of each of the contact-plates 6 This application isadivisionof my applicaa lip or projection 12 is formed, in which is tion filed December-9, 1901, Serial No. 85,206. located a binding-screw 13, to which the end It relates to improvements in electric-lamp of the circuit-wire may be secured. Provi 60 clusters, more particularly to the feature of sion is made to bring the circuit-wire to the separate or individual contact-plates for the binding-post 13 through a suitable aperture lamps, whereby various combinations and cir- 14 formed in the base 2 adjacent the binding cuit arrangements of the lamps maybe sescrew 13. A suitable metallic cap 15 for the cured and whereby a greater degree of flexicluster is provided and is adapted to be held 5 bility in the number of lamps to be accommoin the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of dated in a single cluster is obtained. the insulating-bushing 16, also preferably of Other features relate to the mode of securporcelain. It will thus be seen that the insumg the inclosed cap of the cluster in place. lating-bushings serve to lnsulate the cap 15 In the accompanying drawings,.in which the from the shells to hold the cap in place upon 7 same reference characters designate like parts the cluster and also to accurately aline the throughout the several views, Figures 1 and openings through the cap with the shells of 2 are respectively bottom plan and sectional the lamp connections. Suitable apertures 17 elevations of a two-light cluster of ordinary are formed in the base, through which screws form. Figs. 3 and a are sectional and bottom may be passed to secure the cluster in position 75 plan views, respectively, of a four-light clusin any desired place. When the lamps are ter. Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. inserted in the sockets and screwed into the 3, except that the removable cap is held upon shells 11, their outer contacts arein electrical the cluster by the insulating-bushings alone. connection with the shells 11 and their inner Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a four-light contacts with the spring-tongues 5. The elee- 8O cluster in which the lamps are arranged in tric circuit of the cluster is then from one cir- 3 5 the electric circuit in series; and .Fig. 7 is a cuit-termiualtoabinding-post 13, through the plan view of a five-light cluster, showing vacorresponding. contact-plate 6, the threaded rious arrangements of the circuit connections. shell in connection therewith, and through the Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the insulating lamp placed in the socket. From the center base 2, preferably of porcelain, is provided contactof the lamp it passes to the spring- 4 with a centrally-depressed portion 3, upon the; tongue 5 and thence to the opposite springlower end of which a strip 4 is mounted, havtongue in connection with the other socket and ing the spring ends 5, which serve as central through the lamp to the threaded shell 11 and contacts for the lamps, a screw 5 being ihopposite contact-plate 6. From here the cir- 9 sorted through said portion 3 of the base and ouit is extended, by means of the strip 12 and preferably threading directly into the. plate binding-post 13, to the other side of the ciror strip 4. Upon the inner face of the insucuit. The lamps are thus seen to be in series lating-base 2 individual contact plates or rings in this form of the cluster.

In Figs. 3 and 4 a larger base 2 is provided, having the depressed center, as shown in Fig. 3, which supports the inner approached or adjacent ends of the individual contact-plates as well as the center contacts for the lamps. A ledge is formed upon the base to carry the supporting plate or ring 21, having the extending spring-contacts 22 for the center contacts of the lamps. This ring is secured to the base by screws or bolts 23. The base is further extended or depressed centrally, so as to support the inner ends of the individual contact-plates 6, which are supported upon the ledge 24 of the base, a suitable metallic ring or plate 25 being placed beneath the said ends of the contact-plates 6-and screws, such as 26, being threaded through the base, the ring 25, and into the said inner ends of the contact-plates, whereby they are mechanically supported and electrically secured together. The outer ends 8 of the contact-rings 6are extended outwardly and are firmly secured to the base by means of the screws 7. A binding post or screw 27 is secured to one of the contact-plates, while a similar screw 28 is connected with the inner contact-ring 21. Suitable apertures 29 are provided in the base, through which the leading-in wires may be brought to the binding-post, as many of these apertures as desired being provided. As shown in these figures, the lamps are connected in parallel for the reason that the inner contacts are all electrically connected with one side of the circuit, and the outer contacts are all connected together by the metallic ring 25 and thence to the other side of the circuit. Each of the contact-plates 6 is provided with threaded shells 11 to receive thelamp-bases,

tion of the base as in Fig. 3 is shown.

upon which are screwed insulating-bushings 16, which are designed to insulate the shells from the cap 15 of the cluster to serve to aline the apertures in the cap with the metallic shells and to assist in holding the cap in position upon the cluster. A central screw 30 is secured to the base and threads at its lower end into a nut 31, rigidly secured in the shell portion of the cap to assist in holding the cap in position upon the cluster. A jam-nut 32 is provided to hold the screw 30 in fixed position. In order to secure the cap in place, the screw 30 is first placed in position upon the base, and the cap 15 is turned upon a screw 30. The insulating-bushing 16 may then be gleltaed in position, and the cap is thus securely Fig. 5 shows substantially the same arrangement of the cluster as in Figs. 3 and 4, except that the cap 15 is held in position upon the cluster solely by the insulating-bushings 16, which in this instance are provided with overlapping shoulders 33,which serve to firmly bind the cap in place. 7

In Fig. 6 substantially the same construc- The lamps, however, are adapted to be connected in series in the circuit. In this case the leading-in circuit-wire 35is brought-in through one of the apertures 29 in'tliebase and is attached to the binding-screw 27. From this point the circuit is completed, through the lamp adapted to be placed in the socket corresponding to the contact-plate 6, to the center contact 22 of the socket. This center contact is formed integrally with a metallic segment 36, carried by the base 2 upon the ledge 20. The center contact of the second lamp of the series is likewise formed integrally with the segment 36, from which the circuit is completed through the succeeding lamp to the corresponding outer contact-plate 6. The inner end of this lamp is secured to a metallic segmental strip 37, carried upon the ledge 24 ofthe base 2. Theinner end of the contactplate 6 of the next succeeding lamp of the cluster is secured to this same segment by means of a suitable screw, as shown in Fig. 3, from which the circuit is completed through the lamp to the center contact, which is formed in connection with the metallic strip 36, mounted upon the ledge 20 ofthe base, The fourth lamp of the series now completes the circuit from the center-contact to the outside contact and to the binding-screw 27*, with which one of the circuit-wires is connected and by means of which the circuit of the series is completed.- It will thus beseen that all of the lamps of the cluster are connected in series. It will be understood that the metallic shells 11 of the cluster have been omitted merely for the sake of clearness and that while the center contacts have been described as being formed integral with the segments 36 and 36 it is apparent that other suitable arrangements could be employed. The inner ends of the first and last contact-plates of the series described are secured directly to the ledge 24 of the insulating-base, while the corresponding parts of the other contact-plates are in electrical connection with the segment 37.

Fig. 7 shows the outline of the base of a-cluster arranged to accommodate five lamps in a variety of circuit arrangements. For example, the contacts of the socket 40 are each provided with suitable binding-posts 27 and 45, by means of which this lamp may be connected in a circuit by itself. In the sockets 41 and 42 the contacts are arranged to be connected in multiple, as shown by the center and outer contact connecting strips 46 and 47, with which the circuit-wires 48 and 49 are connected. In the sockets 43 and 44 lamps are adapted to be connected in series by reason of the center-contact-connecting strip 50 and the binding-posts 51 and 52, secured to the inner ends of each-of the contact-plates 6. Suitable apertures are formed in the insulating-base to accommodate the said leading-in wires. It will also be understood from this figure that the threaded shells are omitted for clearness of illustration and that the base is of substantially the same form as shown in Fig. 3.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a cluster. which is extremely flexible and is capable of unlimited variation and as to the number of lamps accommodated and the circuit arrangement, and while I have described the same with particular reference to the details of construction I would have it understood that it is not to be so limited, as various changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made therein and still not depart from its scope or principle.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

.the inner end of said shell and suitable means for holding the lamps in operative position, substantially as described.

2. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable base, of a plurality of annular contact-plates mounted upon said base, a lampreceiving shell mounted on each plate permittirig the lamp-base to pass completely there through, a center contact for each lamp mounted upon said base and situated beyond the inner end of said shell and suitable means for holding the lamps in operative position,

substantially as described.

3. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable base, of a plurality of individual contactplates having sides oblique to the base, a lamp-receiving shell mounted on each plate permitting the lamp-base to pass completely therethrough, center contacts for the lamps mounted upon said base and situated beyond the inner end oi said shell and suitable means for holding the lamps in operative position, substantially as described.

4. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable base, of a plurality of individual contactplates oblique to the base having their center contact for each lamp mounted upon said base and situated beyond the inner end of said shell, substantially as described.

6. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable base, of a plurality of individual contact-plates oblique to the base having their approached or adjacent ends secured together, and their opposite ends secured to the base, a lamp-receiving shell mounted 011 each plate permitting the lamp-base to pass completely therethrough, a center contact for the lamps mounted upon said base and situated beyond the inner end of said shell, substantially as deceiving shell mounted on each of said plates and permitting the lamp-base to pass completely therethrough to engage a center contact also mounted on said base, beyond the inner end of said shell, and a binding post or terminal for one of the supply-wires formed integral with one or more of said rings, substantially as described. i

9. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable base, of a plurality of individual contact-plates mounted thereon, a lamp-receiving shell mounted on each of said plates and permitting the lamp-base to pass completely therethrough to engage a center contact also mounted on said base, beyond the inner end of said shell, means for securing said plates in position, and a lug formed on one or more of said plates and integral therewith for connecting said plates with one of the supplywires, substantially as described.

10. In alamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable insulating-base, of a plurality of contactplates, threaded contact-shells mounted on said plates and permitting the lampbases to pass completely therethrough, and center contacts for the lamps one for each shell mounted upon said base and situated beyond the inner ends of said shells, substantially as described.

11. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with an insulating-base of a plurality of individual contact-plates mounted. upon said base in inclined positions, a lamp, receiving shell mounted on each plate permitting the lampbase to pass completely therethrough anda center contact for each shell mounted upon said base and situated beyond the inner end of said shell, substantially as described.

12. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with an insulating-base of a plurality of individual contact-plates mounted upon said base ininclined positions, the adjacent ends of said plates being secured together, and the other ends secured to the base, a lamp-receiving shell mounted on each base, and a center contact associated with each plate, substantially as described.

13. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable insulating-base, of a plurality of individual contacts mounted thereon, and a binding-post in connection with one or more of said contacts, said base being provided with an aperture situated within the circumference described by the outer ends of said contacts through Which the leading-in wires may be brought, whereby the leading-in wires may pass between said contacts to the binding-post, substantially as described.

14. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with an insulating-base, of a plurality of individual contact-plates mounted upon the front thereof, lamp-receiving shells mounted upon each of said plates and metallic strips mounted upon the front of said base and connecting said plates together, substantially as described.

15. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with an insulating-base, of a plurality of contactplates mounted on the front of said base, a lamp-receptacle mounted on each plate, a center contact mounted upon the front of said base for each shell and metallic strips also upon the front of said base and connecting said contacts in operative relation, substantially as described.

16. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with an insulating-base, of a plurality of contactplates mounted upon the front of said base, a lamp-receiving shell mounted on each of said plates permitting the lamp-base to pass completely therethrough a center contact for each shell mounted upon the front of said base, and metallic strips upon the front of said base connecting said contact-plates and said center contacts in operative relation, substantially as described.

17. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with an insulating-base of a plurality of contactplates,-a center contact associated with each plate, said plates and center contacts all being mounted on the front of said base, a lamp receiving shell mounted on each plate, and metallic strips secured to said contacts and connecting them in operative relation, substantially as described.

18. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with an insulating-base, of a plurality of individual contact-plates mounted on the base, a ledge formed on said base, center contacts for each contact-plate mounted upon said ledge, and an additional ledge formed on the base to :which the outer ends of the contact-plates are secured, substantially as described.

19. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable insulating-base, of a plurality of individual contact-plates mounted on the base, a lamp-receiving shell mounted on each plate,

tially as described.

20. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable base, of a plurality of contact-plates mounted upon said base, a lamp-receiving shell mounted on each plate permitting the lamp-base to pass completely therethrough, a center contact arranged beyond the inner end of each of said shells and mounted on "said base, a casing for said lamp-holding devices, said casing having apertures or openings opposite each of saidreceiving-shells, substantially as described.

21. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable base, of a plurality of contact-plates mounted thereon, a lamp receiving shell mounted on each of said plates permitting the lamp-base to pass completely therethrough, a center contact associated with each of said shells and situated beyond the inner end thereof, a cover or casing for the lamp-holding device having an aperture opposite each of said lamp-receiving shells, and a bushing interposed between each of said shells and said casing, substantially as described.

22. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable base, of contactplates mounted thereon, a lamp-receiving shell mounted on each of said plates permitting the lamp-base to pass completely therethrough, a center contact for each lamp mounted upon said base and situated beyond the inner end of each shell, a casing for the lamp-holding devices having an aperture opposite each of said lamp-receiving shells and a bushing arranged within each of said apertures or openings and supported by said shells, substantially as described.

23. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable base, of a plurality of individual contact-plates mounted thereon and permitting the lamp bases to pass completely therethrough to engage center contacts also mounted upon said base beyond the inner faces of said plates.

24. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable base, of a plurality of individual contact-plates mounted thereon with the intermediate portions thereof arranged away from said base, said plates having the inner and outer ends thereof secured to said base, and center contacts mounted upon said base, whereby the lamp-bases must pass completely through said plates to engage said center contacts.

25. In a lamp-cluster, the combination with a suitable base, of a pl urality of individual contact-plates mounted thereon with the intermediate portions thereof arranged away from said base, said plates being secured at their inner and outer ends to said base, a lamp-rescribed my name in the presence of two witeeiging shell supported by'leaizhlof 1said plates nesses. an center contacts for saic s1e a s0 mount- 1 ed upon said base, whereby the lamp-bases REUBEN BhNJAMIN must pass completely through said shells and WVitncsses: plates to engage the center contacts. WV. CLYDE JONES,

In witness whereof I have hereunto sub- ROBERT LEWIS AMns. 

